Haiti has been struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, killing an unknown number
of people. The small, impoverished country is prone to severe and deadly
natural disasters, especially hurricanes.

Severe deforestation, leading to flooding and landslides, and a lack of proper emergency services and infrastructure has resulted in the storms causing the deaths of thousands of Haitians.

2008 Four separate hurricanes - Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike - in the space of 30 days led to the deaths of more than 800 people. About 60 per cent of the country's harvest was destroyed and entire cities were rendered desolate and uninhabitable.

1963 Hurricane Flora killed over 8000 people, making it the 6th most deadly hurricane ever.

1954 Hurricane Hazel killed more than 100 people and destroyed several towns. The storm also wiped out 40 per cent of the coffee trees and 50 per cent of the cacao crop.

1946 The largest recorded earthquake in modern times on the island of Hispaniola was an 8.1-magnitude temblor that produced a tsunami and killed 1,790 people. Centered in the Dominican Republic, it extended into Haiti.